Blair locked in battle over terror laws

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Confusion surrounded Britain's terrorism laws as a battle raged
between the two houses of Parliament this week and conditional bail
was granted to 10 foreign terrorist suspects detained without trial
for more than three years.

One man, known only as "A", was freed on Thursday night.

Eight were expected to be released yesterday under strict
conditions, including electronic tagging. They include Abu Qatada,
described by an anti-terrorist court judge as a "truly dangerous
individual" who was "at the centre in the UK of terrorist
activities associated with al-Qaeda".

A tenth man, known as "G" and released under house arrest last
year, will have his bail conditions relaxed.

Earlier, Scotland Yard police commissioner Sir Ian Blair warned
of a "grave threat to national security" if foreign terrorist
suspects detained at Belmarsh high security jail under the present
powers were released without controls.

The Special Immigration Appeals Commission took the decision as
Prime Minister Tony Blair was locked in a battle of wills with the
House of Lords over new powers to impose control orders restricting
the movement and liberty of terrorist suspects.

Peers in the upper house stood firm, demanding a time limit on
the laws despite Mr Blair's warning that watering down the
legislation would signal weakness.

During a day of high drama, there was a flurry of speculation
that Mr Blair might call a snap general election if the Prevention
of Terrorism Bill was blocked.

Downing Street played down the suggestion of an early election,
saying it was "surprised" by the reports.

The release of the suspects was agreed three days before the
Government's powers to detain foreign nationals without trial
expire on Sunday.

The Home Office did not oppose bail, although there was argument
over the detailed conditions.

Ben Emmerson, QC, for most of the detainees, persuaded Mr
Justice Ouseley, the immigration appeals commission's chairman,
that the men should be allowed to leave their homes for 12 hours a
day rather than from 7am to 5pm as Home Secretary Charles Clarke
had wanted.

They suspects must wear electronic tags at all times, contact
the monitoring company when they enter or leave home, cannot use
mobile phones or internet-enabled computers, and must allow their
homes to be searched.

The conditions that the appeals commission imposed are likely to
form the basis of the new control orders proposed in the Prevention
of Terrorism Bill, which will replace detention powers that the law
lords ruled in December were contrary to human rights.

The showdown between the Government and the House of Lords was
developing into the most serious constitutional clash since Mr
Blair came to power.

The Prime Minister did not hide his anger at the defiance of the
Lords, where Tory, Liberal Democrat, cross-bench and rebel Labour
peers insisted on significant changes to the bill.

Mr Blair said he would not accept demands that a "sunset clause"
putting a time limit on the life of the bill should be inserted
into legislation.